Apple announced an updated iPad mini on October 26, 2026, introducing an 8.5-inch OLED display, an A20 Pro chip and IP67-rated water and dust resistance. The tablet starts at $699 in the United States, with changes extending to its dimensions, audio system, camera placement and wireless connectivity.
Apple calls the redesign the iPad mini’s “biggest update ever.” The company plans to open preorders on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time, with deliveries and Apple Store availability scheduled to begin Friday, November 6.
Apple says preorders will be offered through its website and the Apple Store app in 36 countries and regions, including the United States. Its planned November 6 retail rollout includes Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, alongside deliveries to customers.
Larger OLED display and a thinner body
Apple says the OLED display delivers higher contrast and more than twice the peak brightness of the previous model. The screen grows from the previous model’s 8.3 inches. Its specifications list up to 600 nits for standard content, compared with 500 nits on the previous iPad mini, and up to 1,200 nits for HDR content.
The 1,200-nit figure is an HDR peak rating. Apple lists full-screen brightness at 600 nits for both SDR and HDR content, so the higher maximum does not apply across the entire display or to standard content. Apple lists a resolution of 2316 by 1512 pixels at 326 pixels per inch. The screen measures 8.5 inches diagonally as a rectangle, with a smaller actual viewable area because of its rounded corners.
A nano-texture glass option also joins the range. Apple describes the finish as a way to reduce glare in bright environments. The U.S. configuration prices put the upgrade at $100, and Apple limits it to models with 256GB or 512GB of storage. It is unavailable on the entry-level 128GB version.
Apple lists the Wi-Fi model at 5.4mm thick and 0.56 pounds (255 grams), compared with 6.3mm and 0.65 pounds (293 grams) for its predecessor. The company describes the redesign as 14% thinner and 13% lighter. Touch ID remains in the top button, and the tablet retains a USB-C port.
A20 Pro configurations vary by storage
The A20 Pro replaces the A17 Pro used in the previous iPad mini. Apple introduced the chip in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo in September 2026, but the tablet’s CPU and Neural Engine configurations depend on storage capacity.
Apple lists the following configurations:
| Storage | CPU | GPU | Neural Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128GB or 256GB | 5 cores | 7 cores | One 16-core Neural Engine |
| 512GB | 6 cores | 7 cores | Dual 16-core Neural Engine |
The 512GB model therefore adds CPU and Neural Engine hardware alongside its extra storage; GPU core counts remain the same across the range.
Apple says A20 Pro uses a 2-nanometer manufacturing process and includes Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. Compared with the A17 Pro iPad mini, the company claims up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance, up to 2.7 times the graphics performance and up to 4.5 times the AI performance.
Apple identifies large language model token generation as the workload behind the 4.5-times AI figure. The company says its performance testing took place in September 2026. Apple also lists hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading among the GPU’s capabilities.
Acoustic Display audio and landscape camera
Apple says its Acoustic Display audio system delivers sound from behind the screen, allowing the redesigned tablet to eliminate external speaker holes. The company describes woofers paired through the display for more bass and volume, with tweeters hidden between the glass and aluminum enclosure for clearer high frequencies.
According to Apple, the system’s sealed enclosure helps the iPad mini achieve its IP67 water and dust resistance rating, a first for the product line. Apple specifies testing under controlled laboratory conditions at a maximum depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes.
That rating has limits: Apple says resistance is not permanent and can decrease through normal wear. Liquid damage is not covered by its warranty.
Apple also describes a change to the front-camera layout. The 12-megapixel Center Stage camera sits on the landscape edge for video calls, replacing the portrait-oriented placement of the previous model. The move follows the landscape positioning used on other recent iPad models.
The company lists a 12-megapixel Wide rear camera and two microphones. Apple specifies Smart HDR 4 and 4K recording at up to 60 frames per second for the rear camera, with 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second for the front camera. An Adaptive True Tone flash replaces the earlier flash, with Apple claiming improvements to photography and document scanning.
Wireless connectivity, charging and external displays
Apple lists its N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, replacing the previous model’s Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. Apple also lists Thread networking support. The company says N1 improves performance on 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and makes AirDrop and AirPlay more reliable.
For Wi-Fi + Cellular models, Apple specifies its C2 modem and claims up to 50% faster cellular data speeds than the previous iPad mini, alongside improved power efficiency. Apple notes that cellular speeds vary with site conditions and carrier, so the maximum claimed improvement is not a fixed connection speed.
Fast charging is another addition. Apple says the battery can reach up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes when connected to a USB-C power adapter capable of supplying at least 35W.
In the United States, Apple includes a 20W USB-C power adapter and a USB-C cable. Apple’s stated fast-charge result requires more power than the supplied adapter provides. Compatible higher-power adapters are sold separately. The USB-C port also retains USB 3 data transfers at up to 10Gbps, according to Apple’s specifications.
Apple’s advertised battery-life ratings remain unchanged from the previous model: up to 10 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi or watching video, and up to nine hours of web browsing over a cellular connection. The company’s battery estimates cover those specified activities.
Apple says extended display mode is supported with iPadOS 27.2 when the tablet is connected to an external display. The feature adds workspace for windowed apps beyond the built-in screen. Apple separately lists support for one external display at up to 4K resolution and 60Hz.
Apple also lists compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), continuing support offered by the previous model. Both accessories are sold separately.
U.S. pricing
Apple lists two finishes, Midnight and Starlight, and three storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. U.S. prices start at $699 for Wi-Fi and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, before the optional nano-texture upgrade on eligible configurations.
The $699 entry price is $100 higher than the previous model’s $599 starting price following an increase in June 2026. That earlier iPad mini launched at $499 in 2024, putting the new model’s starting price $200 above its predecessor’s original launch price.
